Fall 2022 Modernism Class Project

Lior Surkin-Iny's Final Project

Photography can be extremely powerful, it gives people an insight into the past, into a world that once was. It can capture different time periods. Photography is the closest thing that we currently have as a time machine because it can transport us into the past. It allows moments to last forever. Photography gives the opportunity for moments and time to speak for themselves, and to just show what it was like in that specific era. The clothes, hairstyles, backgrounds, details big or small all give little hints into that time period. This exhibition brings together four images shot in the United States at different decades, by different photographers of people who are just in their daily lives. The first two are street photography while the last two are more collaborative with the subject. Yet through photography we can still jump back into those time periods and these pictures allow us to transport back. See what has changed, what has stayed the same. We can transport ourselves into these decades and try to feel what life was like in the United States.  


This photograph captures life in 1955 in the United States. Shot by Robert Frank who was a very influential artist. His fame came after his book The Americans got published, which is still considered one of the most influential photography projects of the 20th century. This image is the same image that is used as the cover for The Americans. He was able to capture what life was like for black and white Americans in the South. In this photograph there is a clear division between the two races. They are sitting apart, and the black Americans are in the back, secluded from the front where the white Americans are. Robert Frank wrote in 1958, “With these photographs, I have attempted to show a cross-section of the American population. My effort was to express it simply and without confusion.” He tried to represent life and show the segregation without making his point overly obvious, he was able to go unseen and unnoticed which gave a more authentic image. He tried to hide in the shadows in order to get an honest depiction of the time. Robert Frank caught a moment between American optimism after war as well as the realities of race and working-class life.  



Photography gives people an insight into the past, into a world that it once was. This photo by Joel D. Levinson taken in 1975 is from his swap meet series. The person on the left represents the time, with their hair, their fashion and even their sunglasses. Times were changing, women starting to gain a little more freedom and justice along with other cultures and minority groups. Women fought to have more access to male dominated industries and universities. They started jumping into politics, becoming lawyers, doctors, scientists’ pilots and more. The main part of the photograph is two boards that are filled with sunglasses. Sunglasses allow people to change their persona or mood. They can make someone feel cooler or give them more confidence. Most of the younger generation in American society was questioning the pervious authority and rules and fought for self-expression, fashion was one of the tools they used. The sunglasses in this image also represent the time, different looks give insight to different times. People are able to transform themselves. Another blast from the past is the little bit of the car that can be seen in the back. Cars today do not have front bumpers like that anymore. This photograph is a perfect insight into the world of United States in 1975. 


This photograph is shot by Adrienne Salinger, who documented bedrooms of American teenagers. This series reveals the styles, trends, fashion, pop of the 90’s. She transports us into a snapshot of what it was like to be a young American teenager at that time. She says “Our bedrooms tell stories about us. They become the repository for memories, desire and self-image”. She would meet these teens in various places like a park or the mall and would have them pose next to all of their personal things. Adrienne explains that “[she] was interested in the rich visual information showing the contradictions and ambivalence of coming of age”. The girl has a specific hairstyle, different from the previous images but a direct correlation to the trends of the 90’s. Her hair is styled similar to how DJ’s character from Full House was styled.  The books, stickers and photos all give little hints into the past.  


This photograph was shot by Danielle Levitt in 2011. As her career started to take off, she began traveling a lot throughout the United States. Like Salinger, Levitt became interested in local youth, so she started approaching them asking to take their portraits. She ended up publishing these portraits as a book We Are Experienced. This photo captures life in the early 2000’s. We can see that her outfit, the colors and what was trending is different from the previous times. These colors look a bit darker than the previous photo and seemed lighter and more pastel like. Here she is wearing knee high socks, something the previous girl did not wear.  Comparing this image to the one from the 90’s instantaneously one can see that the hairstyle is different, the fashion has changed a bit. Looking at her wall, it is different from the previous image, now there are big posters that hint to what was popular at that time. For example, The Beatles are on her wall, so is the Wizard of Oz, these are films and music that can be coming back and popular at this time.  Danielle Levitt is able to capture the life of a teen at that time, just as it is. The youth is a great subject as well because they are usually the ones that are most likely to start the trends. 

Bibliography
Dmitry. (2016, May 10). Photographer Adrienne Salinger's series of teenage bedrooms from the 90s. Design You Trust. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://designyoutrust.com/2016/05/photographer-adrienne-salingers-series-of-teenagebedrooms-from-the-90s/

Joel D. Levinson | Biography - Mutualart.com. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Joel-D--Levinson/5B89F780E8F0B8B6/Biography

Joel D. Levinson. Smartify. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://smartify.org/artists/joel-d-levinson

Kim, D. (2017, September 22). These photographers captured the youth culture of the early 2000s. Artsy. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.artsy.net/article/artsyeditorial-photographers-captured-youth-culture-early-2000s

Robert Frank Photography, bio, ideas. The Art Story. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.theartstory.org/artist/frank-robert/

Robert Frank: Trolley, New Orleans (1955-printed circa 1986). Artsy. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.artsy.net/artwork/robert-frank-trolley-new-orleans-2

Rogal, A. D. (2021, September 22). American street photography of the 1940s–50s. Swann Galleries News. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.swanngalleries.com/news/photographs-and-photobooks/2021/05/americanstreet-photography-1940s-1950s/

These-8-photographers-captured-the-youth-culture-of-the-90s. Savage Thrills. (2018, May 27). Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://savagethrills.com/artdesign/these-7- photographers-captured-the-youth-culture-of-the-90s/ |

Joel D. Levinson |. Contemporary Works | Artists Represented |Joel D. Levinson | Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.contemporaryworks.net/artists/artist_bio.php/1/3708


 

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